Saint Nicholas Church - St Nicholas Church Street, Warwick, UK
N 52° 16.904 W 001° 34.925
30U E 596726 N 5793320
This 1785 church is located on the east side of Saint Nicholas Church Street.
Waymark Code: WMHMV2
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/24/2013
Views: 4
The
church's website tells us of the history of the church:
A unique late 18th century church
building and centre, St Nicholas Church guards the southern entrance of old
Warwick. The present Church was built in 1785, replacing a decaying
mediaeval church, the roots of which lay in a former Saxon nunnery on the
site.
Few new churches were built at that time, after the short period of
classical revival church building in the style of Wren. St Nicholas is an
unusually fine example of Gothic revival architecture, pre-dating the
Victorian excesses, and displaying a rare, delicate, simple style. This
creates an unusual Church worship and community centre.
Internally the unusually fine columns support a squared capitol, from which
rises a very shallow vaulted plaster ceiling. With only four free standing
pillars, the essence of the building is a light and airy square space with
large decorated style windows. Originally built with a small rounded apse,
the former chancel arch has been filled in, hiding behind it a heavy later
Victorian, dark chancel. This is now divided horizontally into two floors,
creating valuable activity space, sustained by kitchen and toilet
facilities.
The approach to the church through the space beneath the western spire leads
to a ‘welcome’ area beneath the western organ gallery, more reminiscent of a
Wesleyan chapel! This provides a seating and meeting area, with a removable
glass screen to the main church space, with modern toilet and catering
facilities, the latter with lifting shutters into the main church area.
The present Church is still regarded historically as the Castle’s Church;
hence the Earl of Warwick is a patron. Connections with the Castle go back a
long way and our links are still strong today, for example, our Choir sings
on the Castle Tower at sunrise on Ascension Day.
The overall result is a 200 year old Gothic style people’s centre for
worship and prayer, doubling as a pleasant area for events such as the
Christmas bazaar, meetings, concerts, church parties, as well as the formal
worship of a live church community in the 21st century.
The church is Grade I listed with the entry at the
English Heritage website telling us:
Rebuilt in C18 on site of a
medieval church. Steeple with porch at west end rebuilt 1748 perhaps by Job
Collins and probably altered when body of church rebuilt l779-80 in a mixed
Perpendicular and Flamboyant style by Thomas Johnson of Warwick. Nave with
wide high aisles forming nearly square rectangle. Chancel added 1869-70 in
Decorated style by John Gibson. An important feature of the old town
approached from Castle Bridge. Interior contains 2 carved wall monuments in
porch, 1656. West gallery. Brass of 1424, carved monument of 1734 with putti
and cherubim.
Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1785
Age of Church building determined by?: Church website
If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Anglican
If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Sunday
Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: 10:00 AM
Street address of Church: Saint Nicholas Church Street Warwick, Warwickshire United Kingdom
Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]
Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]
If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed
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